Vantara, a wildlife rescue centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, has offered to take in 80 hippos from Colombia that are scheduled for euthanasia. The centre, owned by Anant Ambani, says it would house them in a specially designed environment. Colombia approved the cull on 13 April.
Vantara, a 3,500-acre wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, has offered to take in 80 hippos from Colombia scheduled for euthanasia. The facility is owned by Anant Ambani, son of Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani. Vantara stated it would house the animals in “a specially designed and enriched environment.”
The Colombian government approved the cull on 13 April, delegating 7,200 million pesos to regional autonomous corporations Cornare, Corantioquia, Corpoboyacá and CAS. The hippos are descendants of those originally brought by Pablo Escobar.
The offer comes amid discussions on whether relocating the invasive hippos to India could address Colombia's management challenges. Questions remain on Vantara's capacity to accommodate 80 wild animals.